Lian Najjar is a strategic partnerships leader with extensive experience driving development and social impact initiatives across the Middle East and Africa. She currently serves as Senior Partnerships Manager, Middle East and Africa, in the Partnership for Education at Cambridge, where she leads high‑value collaborations with foundations, philanthropies, semi‑government entities and education sector partners. In her role, she strengthens Cambridge’s regional footprint by cultivating relationships and aligning partnership strategies with national and donor priorities. Her work contributes to more equitable education systems and supports sustainable, locally driven improvement in teaching and learning outcomes.
Before joining Cambridge, Lian spent several years with Mercy Corps in Washington, DC and Jordan, where she held senior roles, including Acting Director of Programs and USAID Partnerships Manager. She oversaw multimillion‑dollar portfolios, led strategic planning processes, managed diverse teams, and strengthened the capacity of local and international partners.
Lian also established the organisation’s first Grants Management Unit in Jordan and contributed to major Market Systems Development and economic resilience initiatives funded by USAID and other donors. Her earlier experience includes roles at the American Bar Association’s Center for Human Rights, where she supported global justice programmes, and at PartnersGlobal, where she managed peacebuilding, human rights and civil engagement programmes across Yemen, Lebanon and Jordan.
Lian holds an MSc in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies from the London School of Economics, where she received the Best Dissertation Prize, and a BA in International Affairs from The George Washington University.
She looks forward to contributing to the Fellowship by sharing her regional expertise, engaging with peers and advancing education innovation across the MENA region.